Virginia Western Community College invites applications for its next President, to begin July 1, 2025. VWCC is one of the 23 comprehensive community colleges and 40 campuses that make up Virginia’s Community Colleges. Located in the beautiful Roanoke Valley looking out at the Blue Ridge Mountains, VWCC is an engaged partner with the urban, suburban and rural communities across its service region. The college seeks a president who will understand the relationship between institutional success and ensuring a positive economic impact in the community. Governmental leaders, members of the business community and community organizations will find that they have a capable, energetic, and collaborative partner to advocate and represent the interests of the region.
VWCC’s next president will be a strong leader, supporting innovation across the college, building upon the history of VWCC, and advancing the contributions of faculty and staff. The president will be passionate about academic excellence and strengthening student equity and success. VWCC’s president will also be deeply knowledgeable about the financial, operational and technical supports needed for continuous improvement and sustaining the college in meeting its mission. Relationships with four-year institutions will be optimized to align academic programs for articulation and transfer. Workforce development will be a priority, with emphasis on healthcare, sciences, advanced manufacturing, and other emerging fields.
VWCC’s 70-acre campus boasts a beautiful and well-maintained landscape along Colonial Avenue in Roanoke, featuring a mix of modern and traditional architecture that welcomes and engages both students and community members. With an annual budget of $50.3 million, the college offers a full complement of academic and career-focused programs, serving 9800 students per year. More than 1,000 degrees and certificates, and over 800 industry-recognized certifications are awarded annually. Many of VWCC’s 82 full time faculty and 125 full time staff have been at the college for over 10 years and have deep awareness of the generational impacts of VWCC on students and their families across the diverse service region. The next president will find an excellent network of support and partnerships, both on campus and off campus.
Success Factors
The next president of Virginia Western Community College will articulate a strong vision for the College and region. The president will be passionate about academic excellence, robust student support, and strengthening student equity and success. Virginia Western’s president will also be deeply knowledgeable about the financial, operational and technical supports needed for continuous improvement and sustaining the College in meeting its mission. The president will understand the relationship between institutional success and ensuring a positive economic impact in the community. The president will be a strong leader, supporting innovation and building upon the history and strengths of Virginia Western. Relationships with four-year institutions will be optimized to align academic programs to facilitate articulation and transfer. Workforce development will be a priority, with emphasis on healthcare, sciences, advanced manufacturing, and other emerging fields.
Virginia Western’s president will be the face of the institution to the diverse communities served
across the urban, suburban, and rural Roanoke Valley. Employers will confidently come to Virginia
Western for assistance filling employment or skill development needs. Governmental leaders, members of the business community, and community organizations will find that they have a capable, energetic, and collaborative partner to advocate and represent the interests of the region. The VCCS system will see an experienced and wise thought leader on issues important to higher education.
Priorities
The campus and community stakeholders have identified several priorities for the next president
of Virginia Western Community College:
• Strengthen student access, recruitment, retention, and success
• Support an environment that cultivates faculty and staff contributions to a culture of excellence in
transfer and career-focused programs and in serving the community
• Achieve enrollment growth through a deep focus on adult learners and dual enrollment
• Expand career-focused programs to meet the evolving needs in the Virginia Western service region; maintaining currency in healthcare and other high-demand programs
• Maintain active participation and engagement with the community, building mutually beneficial
relationships and strengthening partnerships with business, community organizations, and governmental agencies
• Exemplify the commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through an inclusive campus
culture, increased diversity of staff and faculty, and active involvement with diverse communities
• Exercise sound financial stewardship and resource development for innovation and sustained excellence
• Leverage the strength of the Local Advisory Board and Educational Foundation Board to build support and giving to achieve the College mission and contribute to regional economic development
Minimum Qualifications:
Qualified candidates must have an earned doctorate and demonstrated successful senior executive experience at the highest levels. Previous experience must include significant responsibility for programs, budgets, personnel, facilities, and other appropriate administrative duties. Successful candidates must have proven leadership abilities, excellent communication skills, the ability to secure financial and program resources to increase student success, a strong belief in a collaborative administrative style, and a servant leadership perspective that focuses on building environments of high trust. The strongest candidates have demonstrated their commitment to ensuring an inclusive environment and equitable access and success for students from diverse backgrounds. In doing so, these executives have shown that they have taken data-informed strategic risks, successfully navigated change, built relationships with leaders from K–12, business, industry, government, and the community at large. The leader also must communicate a vision for the College based on the identified priorities and possess the required skills to achieve results that benefit the College, its students, and the region served.
Additional Considerations:
Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer
WHY VADOC? WHY NOT?
Job stability, 13 paid state holidays in addition to generous vacation, sick, personal leave and military leave incentives. Public Loan Forgiveness Program, Affordable health benefits, Enhanced VaLORS retirement benefits, VA 4...
WHY VADOC? WHY NOT?
$3,000 Sign On Bonus for eligible New Hires!
Job stability, 13 paid state holidays in addition to generous vacation, sick, personal leave and military leave incentives. Public Loan Forgiveness Program, Affordable health benefi...
$30,000 Sign-On Bonus or up to $60,000 Student Loan Repayment may be available for eligible new hires.
We provide job stability, 13 paid state holidays in addition to generous vacation, sick and personal leave, Public Student Loan Forgiveness, to...
WHY VADOC? WHY NOT?
$30,000 Sign-On Bonus or up to $60,000 Student Loan Repayment may be available for eligible new hires.
We provide job stability, 13 paid state holidays in addition to generous vacation, sick and personal leave, Public Student...
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Virginia Western Community College invites applications for its next President, to begin July 1, 2025. VWCC is one of the 23 comprehensive community colleges and 40 campuses that make up Virginia’s Community Colleges. Located in the beautiful Roanoke Valley looking out at the Blue Ridge Mountains, VWCC is an engaged partner with the urban, suburban and rural communities across its service region. The college seeks a president who will understand the relationship between institutional success and ensuring a positive economic impact in the community. Governmental leaders, members of the business community and community organizations will find that they have a capable, energetic, and collaborative partner to advocate and represent the interests of the region.